UB Will Train Vietnamese Engineers

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF) have entered into an agreement to allow top scholars from Vietnam to pursue graduate training in science and technology at UB starting this fall.

"The UB engineering school is delighted to be involved with the VEF in training Vietnam's best and brightest scholars," said Mark Karwan, Ph.D., dean of UB's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

"We believe that this partnership will not only provide UB with a unique chance to help a young country develop human capital for its emerging technology sector, but it also will deeply enrich the UB students and faculty who have the opportunity to work with these fellows."

"We are delighted to have the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences in the VEF Alliance," said Kien Pham, executive director of VEF. "The alliance is a select group of leading universities in the United States that share VEF's mission. Together we will help transform science and technology in Vietnam, and in that process, serve as enduring bridges between the two countries."

All VEF Fellows are required to return to Vietnam after completing their academic programs in the U.S.

Now in its second year, VEF is an initiative of the U.S. Congress to bring the U.S. and Vietnam closer through educational exchanges.

VEF receives the full support of the U.S. National Academies in its fellowship selection process.

Currently VEF has more than 100 fellows at 37 top U.S. graduate institutions, the majority of whom are pursuing doctoral degrees.

VEF is governed by a board of directors, whose members include U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Treasury John Snow and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings.